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Articles on Cobalt

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An aerial view of pools of brine that slowly evaporate, leaving behind lithium and other minerals, in the SQM mine in the San Pedro de Atacama desert, in northern Chile, on April 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

The importance of critical minerals should not condone their extraction at all costs

The temptation to justify critical minerals mining at all costs is a dangerous fallacy. The social and environmental impacts of poorly mined critical minerals are dire.
Deep sea sponges and other creatures live on and among valuable manganese nodules like this one that could be mined from the seafloor. ROV KIEL 6000/GEOMAR

Deep seabed mining plans pit renewable energy demand against ocean life in a largely unexplored frontier

Mining nodules from the deep ocean seabed could provide the metals crucial for today’s EV batteries and renewable energy technology, but little is known about the harm it could cause.
People walk on the road near Kibumba, north of Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, as they flee fighting between Congolese forces and M23 rebels in May 2022. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa)

Why Canadians should be concerned about intensifying violence in Congo

Canada is connected to the Democratic Republic of Congo through the global economy, international peacekeeping efforts and migration. We must not ignore violence because it’s far away.
Off-road vehicles are driven on a property that will be mined for lithium along the Salton Sea, in Niland, Calif., in July 2021. Lithium is critical to rechargeable batteries. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

It’s not necessary to trash the environment to extract metals needed for renewable energy

Canada could become a global leader in the supply of materials needed for renewable energy systems if it finds ways to control the environmental footprints associated with their extraction.
Energy storage can make facilities like this solar farm in Oxford, Maine, more profitable by letting them store power for cloudy days. AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty

These 3 energy storage technologies can help solve the challenge of moving to 100% renewable electricity

The US is generating more electricity than ever from wind and solar power – but often it’s not needed at the time it’s produced. Advanced energy storage technologies make that power available 24/7.
A copper mine in Phalaborwa, South Africa. The African continent is home to vast mineral resources. Mark Schwettmann/Shutterstock

Why African countries must invest more in earth sciences

It seems the production of Earth science knowledge in Africa is simply not progressing, despite the world’s interest in (and exploitation of) the continent’s mineral wealth.
A “creuseur,” or digger, descends into a tunnel at the mine in Kawama, Democratic Republic of Congo. Michael Robinson Chavez/The Washington Post via Getty Images

As cobalt demand booms, companies must do more to protect Congolese miners

Companies can’t verify that their source didn’t involve artisanal mining. A discussion over responsible sourcing strategies and practices is needed.
Replacing carbon-emitting gas-powered cars with EVs requires whittling away EVs’ price premium, and that comes down to one thing: battery cost. Westend61 via Getty Images

The road to electric vehicles with lower sticker prices than gas cars – battery costs explained

EVs will have lower sticker prices than gas vehicles when batteries are cheaper. Getting there comes down to knowing where to cut costs.
A Renault Zoe charging. It’s currently one of the top-selling plug-in electric vehicles in Europe, but what would happen if subsidies dried up? Werner Hillebrand-Hansen/Wikipedia

Electric vehicles as an example of a market failure

Electric vehicles are taking off, but will demand remain sustainable once governments phase out subsidies? And as the “hidden costs” of the EV revolution emerge, some might get left behind…
Research is finding better ways to make batteries both big and small. Romaset/Shutterstock.com

New materials are powering the battery revolution

Is it too much to dream of batteries that are part of the structure of an item, helping to shape the form of a smartphone, car or building while also powering its functions?

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